Beverage cooling and dispensing apparatus



.May 19, 1936. M. SENESE BEVERAGE COOLING AND DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 26, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 JNVENTOR. Marzn- 5677666.

I BY

fa /waft 7% His ATTORNEY.

May 19, 1936. M SENESE 2,041,026

BEVERAGE COOLING AND DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 26, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. Mari! 5 6776 5 6.

f/z's ATTORNEY.

Patented May 19, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- navnmcn COOLING AND DISPENSING APPARATUS Martin Senese, Detroit, Mich. Application February 26, 1934, Serial No. 712,945

4 Claims.

a coil, adapted to contain a portion of the beverage,

in operative relation to a body of exceptionally cold cooling medium, preferably below zero, in such a manner that the coil may be lowered and immersed in the cooling medium during the time that the beverage is being withdrawn from a dispensing valve or tap which is arranged adjacent one end of the coil. Means operable by a foot treadle are also provided whereby the dispensing valve may be opened at the same time that the coil is lowered into the cooling medium. Thus the operator is in a position to use his hands to better advantage in serving the beverage.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel valve operating mechanism with means controlled by the hand arranged in combination therewith for rendering the iechanism inoperative in a manner whereby the valve may be manually operated as desired regardless of whether the coil is lowered or not.

A further object is to provide a device controlled by the foot whereby the means for lowering the coil may be rendered inoperative so that the dispensing valve may be opened and closed as desired. 4

Another object of the invention is the provision of a novel device by which the foam from the beverage may be wiped and removed from the containers as they are filled. This device is preferably attached to the valve or nearby, so that as each container is filled it may be lifted up and swung in a horizontal position in order that the wiper blade of the device will engage the top of the container.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear after considering the description hereinafter set forth in connection with the drawings hereto annexed wherein the various details of the structure are clearly shown.

With reference to the drawings:

Figure I is a front view in elevation of the beverage cooling and dispensing apparatus;

Figure II is a sectional view taken substantially on line 2-4 of Fig. I, and clearly sets forth the manner in which the majority of the working parts are 'operatively related to each other;

Figure III is a section taken on line 3-4 of Fig. Q

II, and shows the valve operating mechanism, and a part of the means for rendering the valve inoperative;

Figure IV is a section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. II, and shows in detail howthe dispensing valve may be operated without lowering the coil which is adapted to be immersed in the cooling medium; I

Figure V is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 111, and shows more in detail the means for rendering the valve operating mechanism inoperative;

Figure VI is a section taken on line 6.6 of

' Fig. II, and shows on a larger scale the construction of the device which is used for wiping the foam from the beverage containers as they are filled; and

Figure VII is a section taken on line 1-1 of Fig. III, and clearly shows a cam which is attached to a spindle, the spindle when rotated being of a character to rotate the .cam in a manner to engage a part of the valve operating mechanism to render the same inoperative.

Considering the principles of design and construction embodied in the apparatus above described, in connection with the drawings, it will be noted that a majority of the working parts are arranged within a cabinet generally designated I. The cabinet may be of any shape or form, however in the present instance it is composed of front and rear walls 2 and 3 respectively, side walls 4, and a bottom wall 9, all of which are supported on suitable legs 5. A tank 6 containing an exceptionally cold cooling medium is arranged in the cabinet and, as shown, is surrounded by side walls 1, a bottom wall 8, and tight fitting cover It, all of which contain suitable insulating material. Thus the refrigerator for cooling the beverage is well insulated and located in the lower part of the cabinet. A part of the means for lowering and raising the movable coil l3 which contains a part of the beverage to be dispensed, including other means, are preferably installed in the cabinet above the refrigerator.

A coil of conduit ll, through which a refrigerant is circulated, is preferably arranged in the cooling medium near the surface thereof, in order that the movable coil l3 secured in a crate l4, may be lowered into the confines of the coil ll, so that the temperature of the beverage in themovable coil may be reduced considerably prior to its discharge from the apparatus. The ends 85 and 84 of the coil II preferably extend through a wall of the cabinet and communicate with an apparatus I! of any suitable type, which is of a character to circulate a refrigerant through the coil conduit II in order to maintain weight is movable within a well '21.

and downwardly in order that the beverage will first pass through the lowermost section 32 of the coil. and thus be thoroughly chilled prior to its discharge from the apparatus. A flexible connection 86 is provided intermediate the conduit II and the upstanding end 81 of ll.

The other end of the coil i3 is extended up wardly as indicated at 33 and. is connected to a dispensingvalve or tap 35. by a flexible connec-' 'tion 14. The upstanding ends of the'coil, ln-

cluding the cable 24 which supports the coil, are movable through an opening .25 provided in the cover Ill.

As stated above, one particular object of'the invention .is'top'rovide means whereby thetem perature of the beverage maybe lowered con- .siderably immediately preceding its dischargefrom the apparatus. This is accomplished-by arranging a coil ll within the-refrigerator tank normally above the cooling-medium; and providing means controlled by a foottreadle whereby .30

the coil maybe lowered and immersed in the cooling -medium, particularly within the confines ,of the coil of conduit II, .the coil II being'autm matically 'raised when the foot treadle is released. V I

I The device for lowering the coil It with respect. to the cooling medium involves the provision of a wheel or pulley it which is mounted "upon a shaft II which is suitably supported in the cabinet. The wheel is provided with a groove in its periphery. The cable 24 is ar- 1 ranged in the groove, and one end thereof is connected to the rack l4 or to the coil I! in any suitable manner, and its other end is secured to a weight 26, which serves to return the-coil normally above the I cooling medium. The

A bell 23 is mounted upon the shaft l6 and," as shown,- vthe upper end of a connecting rod is pivotally secured to the endof one arm of the crank at It, and the lower end of the-rod is pivotally connected at 20 to the forward' end' :of a foot treadle I9, which extends partway supported intermediate its ends'upon an axle 2i. ll'he axle-is carried by brackets 22' which are secured to the bottom of the cabinet. The bell .tcra'nk is'not keyed to the shaft l6, therefore if the crank a not locked to'the wheel by the latch 88; whichwill be described later, the crank will be free to pivot with respect to the shaft. The

other arm 51 of the bell crank has a latch 58 pivotally secured thereto as indicated .at 40.

The latch 58 is adapted to normally engage a pin I! which extends transverselyfrom a spoke of the wheel l5 by means of a spring 88, which 'has. one end connected to the arm 51 of-the crank and the other end to the latch. ,Thus when the treadle I 8 is depressed by the foot, the bell crank, through the agency of the rod i1, and the latch .58, will cause the wheel II to rotate ,;in; .'a-clock-,wise direction and lower the coil l3 mm the-cooling'medium, and when 'isreleasedthe weight 26 will automatically re-- turn the coil ii "to its normal operative position above the cooling medium. The rod l'l preferably extends Wilmaammal rearwalloftherefrigeratorinorderthatthe rod is free to move.

As above stated, a vention is to provide means whereby the dispensing valve or 'tap'may be operated 'at the particular object of the m 1 sametime that the coil I3 is lowered into'the cooling medium. This is accomplished by the provision of avalve operating m gen-v l0 erally designated ll which connects the bell crank with thevalve. This valve operating mechanism is comprised of a link v83 which has one and seemed to a pivot '40. and its opposite end is pivotally connected at 80 to a rod 39. A .tubular guide 81 is arranged in a horizontal position adjacent ..the upper part of the cabinet.v

j 44. Thus when thetreadle I9 is de vthe valve 35, through the agency of the various connections, including the latch 58, will operate'and open at the same time that the coil II is lowered.

A- compression spring 4115 arranged on the guide: Il and provides means for automatically closing the valve when the coil I 3 returns to its normal position above the cooling medium. A "washer 48 is also arranged on the guide and is held in relation thereto by means of a pin 49. The pin 4! is firmly anchored to the inner end of the rod42. An elongated slot 60 is provided in one wall of the tubular guide and a similar slot Si is provided in the opposite side of the guide. The ends of the pin 49 as clearly shown in Fig. 111 are adapted to extend through the slots 50 and BI. Thus the compression spring 41 is adapted to normally engage the washer 48 and force it against the pin' 49 in a manner to urge the rod 42 in a position to close the valve when the coil l3 .is returned to its normal position above the cooling medium. It is to be understood that the spring 41 serves-to close the valve whether the valve operating mechanism is rendered inop- ,;erative or not. under the cabinet. The treadle I! is pivotally The means employed whereby the valve opermay be rendered inoperative now beconsidered. The top of the tubular guide is preferably provided with an elongated aperture "in order that the link 45 may be lifted upwardly as clearly shown in Fig. V. A leaf spring 4| has one end connected to the tubular guide,.and its opposite end is adapted to normally the link45 within the guide. The link 45 is provided with a right-angular memher '0. The meansfor lifting the link 45 upwardly is handcontrolled and, as clearly shown in Pig. III. a spindle 52 has'one end supported in a bracket. ill, and its opposite end extends through the front wall of the cabinet and is provided with a knob 53. A camelement 54 is eccentrically connected to the inner end of the as shown in Fig. VII. Thus by manipulating the spindle the cam. element 84 may be turned so that the face 54' thereof will engage the rightangular member 58 and lift the link 45 upwardly "spindle II. The cam is provided with a face 54 and render the valve operating mechanism inoperative. Thus by manipulating the spindle the valve operating mechanism may be rendered inoperative, and the valve may be operated manually without lowering the coil [3, or, if desired, the coil i3 may be lowered and held for any length of time in the cooling medium, and the valve in such case may also be manually operated as desired. Thus the temperature of the beverage may be cooled considerably prior to its discharge from the valve.

As above referred to, a further object of the invention is to provide means controlled by the foot whereby the dispensing valve may be manually operated without lowering the coil l3. In other words, a mechanism is provided for rendering inoperative the means for lowering the coil, and is thereby distinguishable from the hand controlled means above referred to for rendering the valve operating mechanism inoperative. The means for rendering the lowering means inoperative is controlled by the foot, and is of a character to lift the latch 58 out of engagement with the pin 58, and thereby disconnect the bell crank 23 from the wheel l5. As clearly shown in Figs. II and IV, the latch 58 is provided with afinger 82. A rod 55 is supported in the bracket 38, and one end thereof is bent as at 8| so as to engage the finger 82 when the rod is moved. The opposite end of the rod 55 is pivotally connected at 9| to one end of the arm of a bell crank 92, which in turn is pivotally mounted on a shaft 93. A lever BI is shown pivoted at 52 to the treadle IS. A rod 64 is vertically arranged in a tube 85. The lower end of the rod 64 is adapted to rest upon the forward end of the lever BI, and the upper bent end 95 of the rod is adapted to engage the arm 94 of the bell crank 92 when the button 63 is pressed. A spring 96 as shown in Fig. III has one end thereof connected to the cabinet, and its opposite end to the extreme end of the arm 94 of the bell crank 92 in order to maintain the bent end 8| of the rod 55 in a position so that it does not normally engage the finger 82 provided on the latch 58. The spring 98 also serves to force the rod 84 downwardly against the forward end of the lever 6| in order to normally maintain the button 88 in an elevated position as shown in Fig. II. Thus, when the button 83 is depressed, the rod 64 will turn the bell crank 82 and in turn operate the rod 55 in a manner so that the bent end 8| thereof will engage the finger 82 and lift the latch out of engagement with the pin 59. In such case, the dispensing valve 85 may be manually operated without turning the wheel and lowering the coil l3. It is to be understood in this connection that any of the various rods such as I! and 39 may be lengthened or shortened as desired and that means may be provided for adjusting them.

As clearly shown in Figs. I and VI, a device 56 is preferably attached to the dispensing valve 35 and is comprised of a wiper blade 61 which is secured to a bifurcated member 88. A plate 58 is secured to the body of the valve by a clamp II. By a bolt and spring arrangement 10, the bifurcated member 88 and the wiper blade 51 attached thereto are pivotally secured to the plate 69. The arrangement is such that the member 88 may pivot with respect to the plate 88 and may also laterally adjust itself thereto. This device is adapted to be arranged in a convenient location so that as each container is filled with the beverage the container may be lifted up and then swung in a horizontal position so that the wiper blade 61 will engage the top of the container and remove the foam therefrom. Therefore the operator may remove the foam without the use of the stick which is usually used to perform this purpose.

A shelf 12 is preferably secured adjacent the front wall of the cabinet in a convenient position below the dispensing valve, and if desired a drain 13 may lead downwardly therefrom.

It is to be understood that the tank 6 if desired may be provided with a drain 14, a thermometer 15 to determine the temperature of the cooling medium, and that a pressure gauge 16, and a valve 11 may be included.- in the apparatus. It is to be further understood that if desired a housing 18 with suitable compartments may be arranged in the bottom of the tank 8 below the coil II in order that trays such as 19 or other articles may be inserted into the housing and be cooled. The trays 19 may contain ice cubes, food or other commodities. A door 80 is adapted to close the opening leading to the housing 18.

From the foregoing description, it will be evident that novel means are employed whereby the temperature of a-beverage may be lowered considerably immediately preceding its discharge from the apparatus. Further, that means operable by a foot treadle are provided whereby the dispensing valve may be opened at the same time that the coil is lowered into the cooling medium. It will also be evident that other means controlled by the foot are provided whereby the means for lowering the coil may be rendered inoperative in order that the dispensing valve may be manually operated without lowering the coil. Furthermore, that means controlled by the hand are provided whereby the valve operatirg mechanism may be rendered inoperative in such a manner that the coil may be lowered as desired and the dispensing valve manually controlled, and that means are provided for normally closing the dispensing valve after it is opened.

I claim:

1. A beverage dispenser comprising means containing a body of cooling medium, means containing a liquid to be cooled operatively related to said cooling medium, means operated by the foot for lowering the means containing the liquid into the cooling medium, and means including a weight for returning the means containing the liquid to its normal position above the cooling medium.

2. A beverage dispenser comprising means containing a body of cooling medium, a coil arranged above said medium, means controlled by the foot for lowering the coil into the medium, a dispensing valve connected to said coil, and means controlled by the hand provided whereby the valve containing the liquid to be cooled into the cooling medium and operating the valve whereby the temperature of the liquid is lowered immediately preceding its discharge from the valve.

MARTIN SENEBE. 

